Vertical shrinker apparatus



July 13, 1948. J. l.. FRGusoN VERTICAL SHRINKER APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28, 1946 July 13, 1948. J. 1 FERGUSON VERTICAL SHRINKER APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1946 July 13, 1948. J. FERGUSON VERTICAL SHRINKER APPARATUS 3 She'ts-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 28, 1946 SIDE WALL fjusting nut 2|) Patented July 13, 1948 John Lee Ferguson,

Ferguson Company, Illinoisl Joliet, 111., assigner to J. L.

Joliet, Ill., a corporation of Application January 2s, 1946. serial No. 643,897

Claims. l

This invention relates to a package processing machine, more particularly to an apparatus wherein package caps are fitted tightly upon package bodies by` forming means which operate upon packages after the caps have been initially loosely placed upon the bodies.

More particularly, the invention relates to machines wherein the caps are shrunk onto, or made to conform, to the package bodies by enveloping the capped portion of the package by heat imparting means. Attention is directed to J. L. Ferguson Patent No. 1,540,321 for a comprehensive description of the cap shrinking process and the advantages gained therefrom. The novel features embodied in and the advantages of the present machine may be best appreciated as they are pointed out progressively as the structure of .the apparatus is hereinafter described. Such description will be given in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view partially in section of an apparatus embodying the present invention; F1Fig. 2 is a plan view of themachine shown in 's.1: l

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view taken from the right-hand side of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevationalsectional view of a portion of the apparatus; and

Fig. 5 isa greatly enlarged view of one portion of the sectionalized showing of Fig. 4, the parts shown in said enlarged view being made somewhat out of'proportion in order to emphasize certain features of the invention.

The machine comprises a lower base |I| having lower legs lI-II supportingthe same. Upper legs I2 project upwardly from the corners of the base member I0 and support on their upper end s an upper base lI3. A stationary hollowcenter post I4 is seated in a bottom mounting I5 and vextends upwardly through the upper base |3 constituting a support for a cylindrical sleeve IB which latter has a iiared bearing portion member I1 at its lower end. This sleeve I6 is vertically adjustable along the center post I4 for purposes to be hereinafterdescribed. The adjustment is accomplished by turning cap YI8 which is secured by screw I9 to interiorly threaded sleeve or adin association with an adjusting nut collar 2|. An inwardly projecting collar 20a is included in sleeve 20, and in combination with thecap |8 so embraces a collar 2| xed to the post I4 that rotation of said cap |8 andsleeve 2 0 moves sleeve I6 vertically.

What maybe. termed, the shrinker assembly the central 2 f comprises a plurality of shrinker vunits 22 which consist of shrinker head 'bearings 23 in which shrinker head sleeves 24 are adapted to move vertically, openings 25 on the inner sides of said bearings 23 permitting the movement vertically therein of shrinker head guide studs 26 attached to said shrinker headfsleeves 24. Head cam rolls 21 are rotatably mounted on said studs 26,'said cam rolls 21 riding in a camway 28 formed at the periphery of a sleeve and dish member 29 surrounding and secured to the vertically movable sleeve I6. The shrinker head units are supported on a shrinker head support 30, which latter carries a depending cylindrical supporting and con-r necting collar 3|.

'l'he entire rotary shrinker head assembly is rotatable about the central supporting post- I4, being movable thereabout on a ring bearing Ila positioned between the outwardly extending portion I1 and a depending lip 30a on the shrinker head support 30.

Rotatably movable member 32 also surrounds post I4 and has a flat turntable 33 secured thereto, this member 32 and 33 being also 'adapted to rotate about the post I4 on bearing 34, being connected to the upper portion of the assembly by the supporting member 3 I. The turntable 33 provides a support for cans as the latter are carried through the shrinking cycle...` Can carriers 35 are secured to the member 32 androtate therewith to maintain the cansin vertical alignment with shrinker heads 36. Said heads 36 are secured to the bottoms of the shrinker head sleeves 24 by friction fit or other similar securing means whereby they maybe removed or detached from the sleeves when a change of heads is made. Said heads move vertically with said sleeves as thelatter reciprocate vertically in shrinker head bearings 23.

Inside of each shrinker head 36 is positioned an ejector disk 31 mounted on ejector rod 38 the indicated threaded mounting of the disc on the rod 38 permitting ready substitution of differently sized disks as required by the can cap diameter. An ejector rod collar 39 is fixed to each ejector rod and forms a lower limit member for an ejector spring 40. Also secured to each ejector vrod 38 are collars 4| and 42 which define the limits of movement of said rod vertically by contacting an ejector rod stop 43 vmounted on the upper ends of ejector rod stopspacers `44. Head sleeve caps 45 are positioned as shown to confine theupper ends of ejector springs 40. l `Thus it will bessen that astheshrinkerheads 3i` more downwardly. ,the .een Cepeefss. BP;-

wardly against the ejector disks and cause the ejector springs 40 to be compressed to maintain said caps under yielding pressure as they are being shrunk tightly onto the can bodies. Moreover, when the shrinker heads are lifted, the ejector disks are positively thrust relatively downiwardly by the springs 48 to4 assist the positive release ofthe capped cans from the shrinking heads.

Another important feature of the ejector disk mechanism resides (1) in the proportioning of the disk with respect to the cans upon which the caps are shrunk and/or (2) in the structure included in the disk itself. Before describing the just referred-to structure, the reaction of the can structure to the shrinking of the cap thereupon should be understood. Can bodies are` frequently formed by subdividing spirally wound tube sections. It has been found that shrunkencapped packages sometimes exhibit a regrettable lack oi tightness despite .there seeming to be nothing wrong with the 'shrinking mechanism and despite the'ifact that the cap has been shrunk the prescribed degree by lsuchl shrinking heads. The present'invention `is in part based on a `careful studyI of the possible reasonsior such inadequatefsl'irinking and the devisement of means operativeduring the shrinking for insuring against the Apreviously experienced inadequacies. Looking for instance at Fig. 4, the presentinventor hasdiscovered what seems to be the reason for these-inadequacies. In short, as -the cap is shrunk 'onto'the -can body, a de'nite positive pressure is 'exerted'fby the lip ofthe cap horizontally inwardly against the upper edge of thecan body. Accordingly asthe weaker upper edge of the can bodybucklesfinwardly, the shrunken cap cannot press tightly thereagainst to provide the seal which hasbeen one 4of the outstanding advantageso shrunken caps as closures for 'can bodies. It has been discovered that by adjusting the dimensions of the disk 3`1 with respect to the inner diameter of the can body, i. e. by making the -di'sk'diameter slightly less than the diameter of 'the inside of the can body, and/or' by providing saiddisk `31with a quarter ciriclelower edge -310e, verydesirable results are obtained.

"The reasons why such dimensioning vand/or lsupplying of the radius `at 31a prevents'the above .shortcomingsof'shrinking caps on can bodies may be'b'estunderstood from an examination Iof the :greatly'erilarged view of Fig. 5. As the disk 31' lis .presseddownwardly even very lightlyy against 'the can cap, the material of the latter is forced veryslightly downwardly to lock against the inside edge of the upper portion yof the can. Thererafterasthe lipof the cap shrinks inwardly and 'tendsto 'conform tightly with the outer upper edge of the canv body, the latter cannot collapse 'or buckle,"wherefroman exceptionally tight seal ensues as 'the'cap is shrunkonto the vcan-body. Thedimensions 'of Fig. 5 may be somewhat out of proportion, but'have been so shown in order toiemphasize the manner inA which the heretofore described dimensioning of the disk 31 and/or the Vrounding of the lower edge 31a thereof function toprevent the 'collapse of the upper edge of the 'can'body Th'eterm` and/or is used deliberately "because while the `rounded edge 31a is of value, 'there may be materials and can dimensions which 'are such `as to eliminate the necessity for this rounded edge.

The cans C (see Fig. 2) are presented to the 'shrinkingheadsvia a `belt conveyor 50 which travels from" left to right (as indicated by the ductionlmecham'sm 62, the power being supplied thereto via a motor 65, a belt or chain 86 and a A small driving sprocket 68 is xed to lsaid sha-'tj and a chain 68a engages said sprocket 88 to drive a plurality of other mechanismsfonevof these being the sprocket S9 which is xed to the sleeve on which the main shrinker head assembly is mounted. Other sprockets driven by said chain 68a will be referred to as the Aassociated driven mechanisms are progressively described.

Star `wheel 10 comprises an upper spider 12 and a lower spider 13, both mounted on star .wheel shaft 14. The star wheel spiders 12and 13 form a plurality of arcuate pockets 15 in the Iperiphery of the wheel (six of such pockets being shown in the Vpresent illustration), said pockets ilaring outwardly to form a'plurality of can-arresting points 15a. A sleeve'1`6 surrounds the star ywheel shaft 14 and a collar 11 is utilized to mount a bracket 18 carrying a, set screw 19. A rotary pressure disk 80 is mounted on a shaft 8l secured u tothe bracket 18 by the set screw 19.

The pressure disk'80 is positioned so that the periphery thereof `contacts the caps on the rcans to produce sufficient pressure to'insure `positive travel of the cans vwith the conveyor belt, this beingv a desirable, if not a necessary'provision, when handling empty cans. The star wheel -18 is provided with a lsix-toothed circular ratchet v82 having 'teeth 183 thereon,'said teeth adapted to be engaged by the hook end 84 of a rod B5 pivotally mounted at V86. The other IendA of said rod 36 is provided with a roller 81 for purposeslater to be 'described A feeding-in wheel 88 includes a plurality Aof can contacting arms189 Aand is mountedon a shaft 90 which latter is driven by `a sprocket'a. 'The heretofore referred-to chain 168:1 passes around the sprocket`88a and moves the same in synchronism with the remainder-of the apparatus elsewhere herein described. Thus-'the irl-feeding member 88 is driven in rsynchronism `with 'the s'hrinker head assemblyso `that .a canis fed into position directly under a shrinking unit and is 'thereafter carried by acan Acarrier '35 in vsaidposition. The in-feedingcwheel' and/orl shaft f90 Vcarries a cam '9| whichyas the 'member 88 is rotated, moves the roller end 81 "of the pivoted member vto release the hook en'd84 of said member fromy engagement with one of the teeth 83 thereby to permit the star wheellll and-that can which has been withheld from movement by being Npartially nested in one of the arcuate pockets 15 to be moved by the conveyor 5|] so turn said star Wheel andpass further to the right. However, as each ratchet tooth 83 isreleased Iby the hook VAend -84, the Yarrested can is ausm-s' enabled yfreely to move the star wheel" and passl in to position toy be engaged -by 'one of arms 89.'

However, as soon as; one can has passed the star wheel, theroller 81' has beenv so'cammed as to move' the pivoted' memberl 85 and -cause thev `hooked end s4 to engage tnenext tooth yat., The" starwheel is thus'` so held that another can is then' withheld (bygbeing arrested' by one of' the points a and 'thereby partially" nested' in',

one'or the arcuate pockets 15) from being fed into'engageableposition by the membe1 88.V

After'a can has been positioned to be'engaged by one of thejarms' 89, the latter, in 'conjunction with a can feeding-'in guide 92,' positively 'feeds theean around intoy position to be contacted by a can carrier 35 and thence vto be placed'under a' shrinker headwhile the latter' is its most'v elevated position. Continued rotary movementv of the shrinker head assembly about vthe central post I4 causes the shrinker head 36 now positioned'just above' the can under consideration to moveidownwardly as the roller l2l travels along the camtrack 28. When the canon thecan is properlyfenveloped -by the shrinking head 1 36, the shrinking cycle begins. Heat is impartedto thecap end of the cam and as explained in the above id entiied Ferguson patent, theshrinkabillty ofthe material is taken advantagegofnto tighten the can cap on the can body. The shrinking cap is'heated electrically by well knownmeans which itis not thought are necessary here to explain.

'A'fter the shrinking 'cycle 4has been, completedA and the can under' consideration has been moved around and engages sprocket Illia which is fixed tc a, shaft 1mb en` which the member lulV is mounted. Said sprocket lla isso toothed ,and

diniensioned that the movement of the'member ilrll is properly timed andsynchronized with the movement yof the remainder ofthe apparatus.

' When the cap shrinking process, is `completed,

the .ejector disk positively. functions under the impulse of the ejector spring 4i) to eject a can which for some reason o r another'm'ayv tend tol stick in the` ejector member asthe latterisv raised into nonoperating position.

`Tnus s.' shrinkingA unit of patentably distin-v guishing degree of certainty of operation has been produced, This certainty of operationfisv insured because of the hereinbefore .described mechanisms. c

It is not intended that the description hereto-.- forev given ofthe invention and/or-the showing thereof set forth in the drawings. is limiting sin' any respect ofthe monopoly claimed byA applic'ant. .It vis on thecontrary intended thatrall claims *hereinafter allowed,` whether made ini-f tlally or to be 'added (assumingthat they are' properly supportable by the dra'vvingsand/or specification and/cr'clai-ms originally made here- I in), shall be the measureof the scope of thell'n'- vention herein set'iorth. "Accordingly, and with the' foregoing in mind, what'is. claimed as new' and is-desired to besecured byflgfetters Batent is (remembering that claims broader than' 'those' now included mayl'lereafter be found properly includable herein) f 1'.' In 'an apparatus of the' character described,

an assembly ofy shrinker heads, 'means' for presenting cansh'aving' unshrunk caps thereon', means for in-feeding said lcans progressively under an unoccupied head, means for operatively shrinkingly associating said heads "with said capped cans as the latter are juxtaposed therewith and" for maintaining said association' through a predetermined shrinking cycle, and

out-feeding means for positively disassociating cans'from said shrinking means.- I

2. In an apparatus of the character described, an" assembly ofshrin'ker heads, means for presenting cans having unshrunk caps thereon,

means for iii-feeding said cans progressively under an unoccupied head, means for withholding said cans until said feeding means is in synchronism with an unoccupied head on said assembly, means" for 'operatively shrinkingly associating said'heads'with said capped cans as the latter are juxtaposed therewith and for maintaining' said association through a predetermined shrinking cycle, and out-feeding means for positively' disassociating said can Vfrom said shrinking means. i

3. 4In an apparatus of the character described,

anassembly of shrinker heads, means for presentingv 'cans having unshrunk caps thereon,`

means for in-ieeding said cans progressively underr an unoccupied head, means for withhold-v ing said cans untill said in-feeding means is in synchronism withv an unoccupiedhead on said assembly comprising a member provided' with; one or 'more pockets for positively holding the about-to--be presented can station-ary and connecting' means :between said member and said infeedir'ig'- means for releasing said'member to permit a inV synchronism 'with the movement of saidr shrinkert head assembly, means for operativelyl shrinkingly associating said heads with said capped cans as the latter are juxtaposed therewithv and. for maintaining' said through a predetermined shrinking' cycle, and out-feeding means' for positively disassociating said can from said shrinking means.`

4. In an apparatus of the character described' anassembly of shrinker heads, means foripresenti'ng cans; having unshrunk caps thereon, in'- cluding a' rotary against 'said caps to insure positive travel of said cans as they are presented, means for in-feeding said cans progressively under .an unoccupied head,"means for operatively snrlnkingly associ-ating'said heads with said capped cans as thev lattes areL juxtaposed therewith and for main- 4 t'ainings'aid association through a predetermined shrinking cycle, 4,and out-feeding means for, positively disassociating cans from said shrinking means. 5. vIn an apparatus senting cans having unshrunk `caps thereon, means for in-ieeding vsaid cans progressivelyunder unoccupied head', andmeans for operatively shrlnkingly associating saidheads with said cappedcans as the latter Aare juxtaposed therewith 'and Afor t maintaining said association through a'predetermined shrinking'fcycle comprising. a plurality lof vertically"` oscillatable can fcaps and ,a 'camway lfor vertically moving '81.,

head into shrinking relation' with each can as cans can to beengaged by said infeeding means;

association y l,member exerting pressureY of the character described, an assembly of shrinker heads, 1neans for preshrink'er heads adapted to bepositionedover the;

are in-fed progressively and formaintainingrsaid..

heads in said relation as the cans ,aremovedfrom the in-feeding zone to an out-feeding zone,veach of -said heads being provided with a spring-biased ejector disk to maintain said caps under yielding pressure during the shrinking. cycle. l V

6. In an apparatus. of the character described, an assembly of shrinker heads, means for presenting cans having unshrunk'l caps thereon, means for irl-feeding said cans progressively under an unoccupied head, and means for operatively Vshrinkingly associating said heads with said capped cans as the latter arejuXtaposed therewith and for maintaining said, association through a predetermined shrinking cycle. comprising a plurality of vertically oscillatable shrinker heads adapted tobe positioned over the can caps and a camway for vertically lmoving .a head into shrinking relation with each can as cans are in-fed progressively and for maintainingsaid heads in said relation as the cans are moved from the in-feeding zone to an out-feedingzone, each of said heads being providedwitha spring-biased ejector disk to maintain said caps under yielding pressure Y during the shrinking cycle, said heads and said ejector disks comprising demountable units to provide for substitution to accommodate cans of varying diameter.

'7. In an apparatus of the character described, an v assembly of shrinker heads, means for presenting cans having unshrunk caps thereon, means for in-feeding said cans progressively under an unoccupied head, meansv for operatively shrinkingly associating said heads with said capped cansras the latter are juxtaposedtherewith and for maintaining said association through a predetermined shrinking cycle comprising a plurality of vertically oscillatable shrinker heads adapted to be positioned over the cancaps and a camway for vertically moving a head into shrinking relation with eachcan as cans are in-fed progressively and for maintaining. saidheads in said relation asthe cans/are moved from the in-feeding zone to an out-feeding zone, and means for vertically adjusting the shrinker head and camway assembly to accommodate cans of varying height.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, anassembly of shrinker heads, means for presenting cans having unshrunk caps thereon, means for in-feeding lsaid cans progressivelyunder an unoccupied head, means for operatively shrinkingly associating said heads with saidcapped cans as the latter arel juxtaposed therewith and for maintaining said association through a predetermined shrinking cycle comprising a plurality. of 'vertically oscillatable shrinker heads adapted to be positionedl over the can caps and a camwayfor vertically moving a head into shrinking relation with each can as cans are in-fed progressively and for maintaining said heads insaid relation as the cans are moved from the in-feeding zone to an out-.feeding zone,y and means for maintaining a yielding pressure ori/,said caps during the shrinking cycle. f

9. In an apparatus of the 'character described,

an assembly of shrinker heads, means for present-`` ing,l cans having unshiunk caps thereon, ,meansfor, in-.feeding said cansrprogressively under an unoccupied head, means for vwithholdingsaid cans untilsaid in-feeding means isinsynchronism.r

with an .unoccupied head on said assembly` comprising a star wheel includinga plurality of arcuate pockets .adapted ,partially to embrace and hold, stationary one ofI the being .presented cans,

positioned to permit rotary movement of saidstar wheel and entry of the justy held can into said .in-V

feeding wheel in synchronism with the movement of said shrinker head assembly, means vfor.l operatively shrinkingly associating said heads with said'capp'ed cans as the latter are juxtaposed therewith and fory maintaining said association through a predetermined shrinldngy cycle, and1 out-feeding means for positively. disassociating said can -fromsaid shrinking means.

l0. In an apparatusof the character described. an-assembly of shrinker heads, a linear conveyor` for presenting cans having unshrunkcaps thereon, means for in-feeding said cans progressively.; under an unoccupied head comprising. a-rotary member having arms arrangedto engage can sides, a guide member, said armsI andY saidl guide functioning to feed said cans, and a can carrier"` to receive ,said thus-fed cans andmaintainthem in shrinker head receiving position, means for: withholdingsaid cans until said in-feeding, means'A is .in synchronism with an unoccupiedhead onA said assembly comprising a member providedwitliy oneor more pockets for positively, holding the.

about-to-be presented can stationary, and connecting means betweensaid member and said linfeeding means for releasing said member to permitA a can to be engaged by said in-feedingI means in,

synchronism with the movement ofjsaidfshrinker head assembly, means for operatively shrinkingly associating said heads with saidl `capped cans as the latter are juxtaposed therewithand'for' maintaining said vassociation througha predetermined shrinking cycle, andV out-feedingmeans for positively disassociating said can` froml said shrinking means.

11. Inan apparatus of the character described,4 an Vassembly of shrinker heads, a linear conveyor for presenting cans having unshrunk caps ,thereon, means for in-feeding said cans progressively under an unoccupied head comprising a rotary member having arms arranged/to vengage canvr sides, a guide member, said arms and said 'guide' functioning to feed said cans, Aanda can carrier to receive said thus fed vcans andmaintain them in'shrinker headreceiving position, means for withholding said cans until said in-feeding means is in synchronism with anunoccupied head onA` said assembly comprising a, member provided. with one or more pockets for positively holdingthe -about-to-be presented canstationary, and

connecting means between said member and 4said; in-feeding means for releasing. saidjmember 'to' permit acan to be engaged'by said in-feedng meansin synchronism with the movement of'said' shrinker head assembly,` means for operativel'y shrinkinglyl associating said' heads Withsaid capped cans as the latter are juxtaposed therewith and for maintaining said association-through a predetermined shrinking cycle, and out-feedii'i'gl means for positively disassociating said 'can'l from said shrinkingmeans, said conveyor being'pos'itioned adjacent one side vof said in-feed, saidi shrinker headassembly, and said out-feeding? means wherefrom said cans are fedofl said con-'.

veyor, the caps shrunk thereupon and thereafter returned tosaid conveyor While the lattercontinues its linear travel.

` Y12. In an apparatus of the characterv described,"

an assembly of shrinker heads, means for, posi-` portions of the cans to form a tight seal and means to hold the can body portion against which the caps are shrunk from moving and nullifying the expected seal between the shrunken cap and the can body.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, an assembly of shrink-er heads, means for positioning the shrinker heads over capped cans to shrink the material of said caps against the outer portions of the cans to form a tight seal and means for forcing the planar portion of the can cap downwardly against the inside lip of said body to hold the can body portion against which the caps are shrunk from moving and nulliiying the expected seal between the shrunken cap and the can body.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, an assembly of shrinker heads, means for positioning the shrinker heads over capped cans to shrink the material of said caps against the outer portions of the cans to form a tight seal and means to hold the can body portion against which the caps are shrunk from moving and nullifying the expected seal between the shrunken cap and the can body, said last named means comprising a member pressing downwardly against the cap at the point where said holding is desired to force a portion of said cap against the inside lip of said, body.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, an assembly of shrinker heads, means for positioning the shrinker heads over capped cans to shrink the material of said caps against the outer portions of the cans to form a tight seal and means to hold the can body portion against which the caps lare shrunk from moving and nullfying the expected seal between the shrunken cap and the can body, said last named means comprising a spring pressed disk of less cross-sectional dimension than the interior of the can body which disk presses a portion of said cap against the inside lip of said body.

JOI-IN LEE- FERGUSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,254,207 Cullen Jan. 22, 1918 1,366,742 Mrazek Jan. 25, 1921 1,384,945 Ford July 19, 1921 1,540,321 Ferguson June 2, 1925 2,101,291 Price Dec. 7, 1937 2,371,265 Ray Mar. 13, 1945 

